Excavating-machine.



PATENTED JULY 3, 1906.

P. POULSON.

EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Ede/afar fefel i mzzyazz 7%272 gau i- PATENTED JULY 3, 1906.

P. POULSON.

EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR.19, 1906.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

III/I PATENTED JULY 3, 1906. P. POULSON. EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.19, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 3 PATENTED JULY 3, 1906.

P. POULSON. EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR.19, 1906.

www N a, m m Saw UNITED STATES PETER POULSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXCAVATING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1906.

Application filed March 19, 1906. Serial No 306,938.

This invention relates to that class of ex-- cavating-machines adaptedto be moved along the ground as desired while in operation andcomprising excavating mechanism adapted to make a trench of the desiredwidth and depth.

It relates particularly to the construction of the excavating mechanismand the means for operating it and moving the machine, whereby anexcavating device which is movable to different positions with relationto the main frame may be operated by means of mechanism mounted in themain frame and adapted to be connected in a simple and efficient mannerwith the engine or source of power. a

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple,economical, and efficient excavatingqnachine.

Further objects are to provide a machine having an excavating devicecomprising a frame and excavating-chain bodily movable vertically todifferent operative positions with relation to the main frame and soconstructed as to occupy a comparatively small space in the trench, thusenabling the sheeting for supporting the side walls to extend close tothe part to be excavated and also enabling the excavating mechanism tobe readily adjusted so as to pass over and cut as close to obstructionsas possible, to provide improved rotatable operating mechanism mounteddirectly in the main frame and adapted to efficiently and directlyengage a substantially straight vertical lap of the excavating-chain foroperating it in any deslletl raised or lowered position, to providesimple and efficient means for rotating the traction-whcelsintermittently while the excavating mechanism is in operative positionand continuously when desired for the purpose of moving the machine fromplace to lace, and to provide excavating shovels or liuckts mounted upona flexible supporting and driving mechanism or chain and so constructedthat the size of such shovels or the length of their excavating portionsmay be increased or decreased without removing the portion of theshovels directly attached to such flexible supporting mechanism orchain.

A further object is to provide in a machine having excavating mechanismmovable bodily upward and downward with relation to the main framesuitable means for discharging material from the excavating-shovels atthe same elevation when the excavating mechanism is in different raisedor'lowered positions, or, in other words, independently of the raised orlowered position of the excavating-chain and its upwardly'and downwardlymovable supporting-frame.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear from anexamination of the drawings and the following description of the claims.

The invention consists in the features, combinations, and details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of anexcavatingmachine constructed in accordance with my improvements; Fig.2, a transverse sectional elevation taken on line 2 of Fig.1 lookingto-. ward the front of the machine with certain parts omitted; Fig. 3, aplan view of the rear portion of the machine, partlyin section withcertain parts omitted; Fig. 4, a detail planviewofthegear-and-shaftmechanismioroperating the transverse conveyor;Fig. 5, a detail view in sectional elevation of the wormand-gearmechanism for raising and lowering the excavating-chain or shovelmechanism and supporting-frame; Fig. 6, a view in clevation,showing theexcavating chain and shovel supporting frame in folded or raised inoerative position with certain parts brolien awa and also showing themechanism for disc iarging material from the shovels; Fig. 7, anenlarged detail view of the tiltable toothed gear-wheel for operatingthe excavating-chain and shovel mechanism; Fig. 8, an enlarged plan viewin detail of one of the excavating-shovels, showing the supporting-chainin section and also the vertically movable excavating-frame and ratchet;F ig. 9, a sectional detail view of one of the removable extensionportions of an excavatingshovel, taken on line 9 of Fig. 8, showing themanner of connecting the parts; Fig. 10, an enlarged detail view insection, showing the ratchet, gear, and clutch mechanism for opativelyconnecting the main supportingwheels with the source of power; Fig. 11,an enlarged detail view in section, showing the co mpensating-gearmechanism and the clutch mechanism for looking it to the shaft; and Fig.12 an enlarged detail view of the pawland-ratchet mechanism for enablingthe su portin -wheels to be rotated intermittent y when desired.

In constructing a machine in accordance with my improvements I provide amain frame having lower longitudinal sills a, connected by transversebeams b, and upper lonitudinal sills a, mounted parallel with the ower'longitudinal sills upon uprights d, all preferably of I-beamconstruction and secured rigidly together in any ordinary and well-knownmanner, forming a rigid framework. The forward portions e of the lowerlon itudinal sills are preferably elevated sli Titly above the rearportions, so that said sil portions, respectively, may be normallyhorizontal. The forward end of the main frame is mounted upon an axle f,and front supporting-wheels g, forming a forward running-gear mechanismwhich may be of any desired type and which is provided with suitableguiding mechanism, which may be also of any ordinary well-known type.The guiding mechanism here shown comprises a guidin -chain h, which issecured to the forward axle and wound upon transverse shaft mechanism i,mounted in suitable bearings jin the main frame. A worm-wheel 7c isniounted on the shaft 'i in toothed engagement with a worm Z upon arotal able guiding-shaft m, which is rotatably mounted in the frame andprovided with a hand-wheel 'n, by means of which the guiding mechanismis operated. Transverse I-bea'ms 0 and blocks 1) support the forward endof the main frame upon the forward axle and at a sufficient elevation topermit the front supporting-wheels to be turned with the axle in ahorizontal plane to any desired angle in guiding the machine.

The rear end of the supporting-frame is provided with transverse I-beamsg, which are supported at each side of the machine upon longitudinalframe members 1', preferably of I-beam construction, the opposite endsof which are provided with axles 8, upon which are mounted flangedsupportingwheels i. There are a pair of these flanged wheels on eachside of the machine, and each pair is mounted inside of and supported bya Wide supporti w traction-wheel y of large diameter, one of which isarranged on each side of the rear end of the machine. Thesetraction-wheels are formed of heavy metallic rims having inner annulartrack portions 2, upon which are mounted the flanged wheels abovedescribed, a pair of such flanged wheels being arranged upon the insideof each outer traction wheel or rim, forward and rearward of the axialcenters thereof. These large traction-wheels, which are without spokesor hubs, thus support the rear portion of the 1 machine and may beentirely out of contact therewith except at points where their inner Acrank-shaft 3 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings in the mainframe and oper- I atively connected with an. engine or other suitablesource of power by means of pitmen 5 or in any desired ordinary andwell-known manner. The main driving crankshaft 3 is operativelyconnected with the main operating or power-transmitting shaft 6, whichis mounted in suitable bearings 7 in the main frame by means of aspur-pinion 8 upon said crank-shaft and a spur gear-wheel 9 upon thedriven main operating-shaft.

In order to provide suitable means for operating the reartraction-wheels y in an intermittent or step-by-step manner when themachine is in operation and continuously when desired for moving themachine from place to place and to enable such tractionwheels to berotated independently of each other or at the same or different speeds,as desired, the said traction-wheels are each provided with a largeinner toothed annular gear or rack 10, mounted between the annular trackportions 2, and a transverse shaft 11 is rotatably mounted in suitablebearings 12 and provided with sp "r-gears 13 mounted on opposite sidesof the machine between each pair of the flanged supporting-wheels abovedescribed and in toothed engagement with the inner gears 10 of thetraction-wheels, respectively. One of the gears .13 is fixed to theshaft 11, and the other is rotatable thereon, as hereinafter described.The shaft 11 is operatively connected with the driven or mainoperating-shaft 6 as follows: A sprocket-wheel 14 is rotatably mountedupon the shaft 6 and in fixed relation to a ratchetwheel 15, which maybe cast integral therewith or secured thereto in any ordinary manner.Aclutch member 16 is slidablymounted upon said shaft, to which it isconnected by means of a spline 17, so as to rotate with the shaft and bemovable into and out of engagement with the clutch-shoulder portions 18upon the hub 19 of the sprocket and ratchet member. A clutch-operatinglever 20 is operatively connected with the sliding clutch member forthrowing it into and out of operative position.

A compensating-gear mechanism is mounted upon the shaft 11 andoperatively connected with the shaft 6 by means of sprocketchain 22, theupper portion of which is mounted u on the sprocket 14 above describedand the lhwer portion of which is mounted upon and in engagement withthe toothed central sprocket member 24 of the com ensating gear. Thiscompensating ear is ormed of said central sprocket mem war 24, the outerrim of which is provided with s )1ocketteetl1 23 and a plurality ofbevel-pimons 25, rotatably mounted in said sprocket member between itstoothed rim and axial center, the axes 26 of such inions extendinglaterally of the sprocket. he said inner-sprocket member is rotatablymounted upon the shaft 11, and bevel-pinions 27 and 28 are mounted uponopposite sides thereof upon said shaft and in toothed engagement withthe bevelpinions above described. The bevel-gear 27 is secured in'fixedrelation to the shaft by means of a spline or cotter 29 or in anyordinary manner. The other bevel-gear member 28 is rotatably mounted onsaid shaft and provided with a preferably integral sleeve portion 30,upon and in fixed relation to which is mounted the spur gear-wheel 13already described, which is in toothed engagement with the inner gear orannular rack of the corresponding traction-wheel. The spur-gear 13 atthe o posite end of the shaft 11 is fixed to the s laft. These s urgear-wheels are thus adapted to rotate eit er in unison orat differentspeeds, as required, enabling the traction-wheels to be rotatedcorrespondingly either in unison or at different speeds.

It is desirable to provide means whereby the traction-gear-drivingwheels 13 may be held in fixed relation to each other when thetraction-wheels are to be rotated at the same speed. A clutch member 31is there-' fore mounted upon the shaft 11, with which it is slidablyconnected by means of a spline engagement with the clutch-shoulder "o'rtions 33 011 the hub 34 of the gear, whic i is secured to the sleeveabove described. (See Fig. 11.) A hand-lever is mounted in operativeengagement with this clutch memher and pivotally secured to the frame ofthe machine in any ordinary manner. By this means the traction-wheelsare operatively connected in such a manner that when the clutch 31 is inengaging position the wheels will rotate at the same speed, thebevel-gear, members of the compensating gear and the gears 13 beinglocked iinfixed relation to each other and to the shaft 11. Throwing the.clutch out of engaging position will release the gear members 13 and28, which are secured to the sleeve 30, and permit the independentrotation of the traction-wheels.

In order to enable the traction-wheels to be automatically rotatedintermittently or in a step-by-step manner while the driven shaft 6,which transmits the power to such wheels, is rotated continuously, theratchet- Wheel' 15, which is rotatably mounted on said driven shaft, isprovided wth a pawl 63, pivotally mounted in the upper ends ofsupporting-arms 37, such arms being pivotal y mounted upon the hub ofthe ratchet, as shown in Fig. 10. This pawl is provided with a weightedend portion 33, which is socured to one end of a tension-spring 39,theopposite end of such springbcingremovalily secured in any ordinary andwell-known manner to the awl-supporting arms. When the traction-w reelsare to be rotated intermittently, the spring 39 is connected in themanner described; but when they are to be rotated continuously, as inmoving the machine from place to place, the spring is disconnected atone end and the pawl is held out of engagement with. the ratchet bymeans of the weight. A second pawl 41 is pivotally mounted in the mainframe upon a pivot 42 and provided with a compressionspring 43 forholding it in operative position in engagement with the ratchet-wheel 15when such ratchet-wheel is in use. This spring 43 is secured at one endto the pawl and at its opposite end to an arm 44, which is pivotallymounted by means of a pivot-pin 45 upon the main frame.

A dowel-pin 46 is removably mounted in a suitably-perforated portion 47of the frame, adapted to hold the arm 44, when on one side of such pin,in position to compress the spring 43, so as to press the pawl intooperatlve engagement with the ratchet. When the arm is moved to theopposite side of the -;pin, it will hold the pawl out of engagingposition.

nected 'at one end with the pawl-carrying -arms 37 by means of acrank-pin 49 and at its opposite end with the cranlearm 50 upon one endof a crank-shaft 51. Said crankshaft is rockingly mounted and providedwith a second crank-arm 52 upon its opposite end. A similar pitman 53connects the last-mentioned crank-arm with a crank-arm 54 upon and infixed relation to the rotatable shaft 6. The rotation of the shaft 6thus rocks the crank-shaft 51 and produces a rocking movement of thepawl-carrying arms 37,-thereby giving the ratchet-wheel 15 and thetraction=wheels a step-by-step movement.

In order to control the length of each reciprocating movement of thepawl 36, and thereby govern the distance which the machine moves at eachstep, the pitman 53 is provided with an adjustable pin-supporting block55, in which the crank-pin 56 is mounted. The adjacent surfaces of saidadjustable block and the crank 54 are corrugated, so as to securely holdthe block in any desired adjusted positlon.

A verticallymovable excavating-frame 57 is mounted in the main frame,preferably at the transverse center thereof and back of the axialcenters of the traction-wheels. This frame is made foldable, as shown inFig. 6, being provided near its center with a hinge 58, pivotallyconnecting its upper and lower sections. The upper section is thusadapted to be folded backward in position to rest upon supporting-arms59,which are secured, b means of brackets 60, to the main frame. T emachine is thus enabled to be transported from place to place withoutdanger of injury to the parts by the long verticallymovable frame comingin contact with obstacles of any description. The upper and lowersections of the vertically-movable excavating-frame are rigidlyconnected in operative position by means of a metallic plate 260, whichis bolted thereto on the side opposite the hinge 58 by means of bolts61. These bolts may be removed from at least one of the folding sectionswhen the frame is to be folded. This supplementary or excavating frameis formed of a central 1-beam 62, having a pair of I-beams secured toits opposite edges with their web portions at right angles to thecentral web portion of the main or central I-beam. A toothed rack 64 issecured to the central I-beam member by means of bolts or rivets 65 andis also made in separate upper and lower sections, which are connectedby means of the hinge 58, already described, so as to be foldable withthe I-beam'members of such frame. For raising and lowering thisexcavating-frame a transverse shaft 66 is rotatably mounted in suitablebearings 67 in the main frame and provided with a pinion 68, mountedupon and in fixed relation to such shaft and in toothed engagement withthe toothed rack 64 upon the excavating-frame. This shaft 66 isoperatively connected with the main operating-shaft 6 by means of anintermediate shaft 69, which is mounted in suitable bearings 70 in themain frame and provided at one end with a spur-pinion 71 intoothedengagement'with the spur-gear 9 on the shaft 6. Upon the opposite end ofthe shaft 69 is mounted a bevel-gear 72. When the machine is employed inexcavating, the shaft 69 always rotates in the same directionthat is tosay, forward, or in the direction of the forward rotation of thetraction-wheels.

In order to enable the excavating-frame to be raised or lowered, asdesired, the connec- .tion between the shafts 66 and 69 is made in sucha manner as to permit the direction of rotation of the shaft 66 to bechanged when desired, while the direction of rotation of the shaft 69remains unchanged. To accomplish this, a worm 73 is mounted upon and infixed relation to a vertical stub-shaft 74 and in toothed engagementwith a worm-wheel 75 upon the shaft 66, which is operatively connectedwith the supplementary frame. The stub-shaft 74 is mounted in a suitablebearing 76 in the main frame and provided at its upper end with abevel-pinion 77 in fixed relation to such shaft. A shaft 78 is mountedover the pinion 77 in line with its axial center and extends at rightangles to the shaft 66 and stub-shaft 74 and longitudinall of themachine upon the right-hand side t ereof, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5.

For operativel connecting shafts 78 and 66 a clutch mem er 79 is mountedupon the shaft 78, rotatable therewith and movable longitudinallythereof, being slidably connected with such shaft by means of a spline80 and provided with anoperating-lever 81. Spur-pinions 82 and 83 areloosel mounted upon the shaft 78 on oposite s1des of the clutch member79 and both in toothed engagement with the gear 77, which is on theworm-shaft 74, already described. By'this means it will be seen that thedirection of rotation of the worm 73 and shaft 66 may be changed withrelation to the direction of ro tation of the shaft 78 when desired bythrowing the clutch member 79 into engagement with either the shoulderedclutch member 84 upon the bevel-gear 82 or the clutch member 85 upon thebevel-gear 83.

The shaft 78 is operatively connected with the shaft 69, and therebywith the main driven shaft 6 and source of power, by means ofbevel-gears 86 and 87, which are loosely mounted upon said shaft 78 andboth in toothed engagement with the bevel-gear 72 upon the shaft 69. Aclutch member 88 is mounted between the bevel-gears 86 and 87 upon theshaft 78, movable longitudinally thereof and rotatable therewith, and isprovided with an operating-lever 89, by means of which such clutchmember may be moved into engagement with either the shouldered clutchportion 90 of the gear member 86 or the clutch portion 91 of the gearmember 87. By this means when the clutch is in operative engagement withthe gear-wheel 86 the shaft 78 will be rotated in one direction, andwhen in engagement with the gear 87 said shaft will be rotated in theopposite direction with relation to the shaft 69. When the clutch member88 is out of engagement with both its gears, the shaft 78 may remainstationary, and when the clutch member 79 is out of engagement with bothits gears the worm-shaft 74 and transverse shaft 66 may remainstationary. The shaft 78 is rotatably mounted in suitablebearing-bracket portions 92 and 93 upon the main frame and is providedwith a sprocket-wheel 94 upon its forwardend, by means of which it isoperatively connected with the transverse endless con'veyer hereinafterdescribed.

The above-described connections between the shafts 66 and 69 enable theverticallymovable excavating-frame to be raised or lowered, as desired,tocontrol the depth of the excavation whenthe-machine is in operatlon orto permit the machine to be moved from place to lace. p

In or er to provide" s'uitable means for guiding the excavating frame inits vertical movement and holding it, and thereby the excavating shoveland chain mechanism 1n operative position, guiding-rollers are rotatablymounted between the flange portlons of the vertical side I-beam members6? at sultable intervals and sup orted in position by means of brackets96,wliich are mounted upon transverse channel-iron frame members 97 and98. The channel-iron 98 isseeured to the longitudinal frame members 0,being provided with filler-blocks 99 for holding it, and thereby theguiding-rollers which it supports, in operative position. Theguiding-rollers 95 are mounted upon pins 100 in the brackets 96 and inposition to hold the verticallymovable excavating-frame againsthorizontal play both transversely and longitudinally of the frame.

A plurality of excavating-shovels 101 are mounted upon a flexiblesupporting element in the form of a pair of excavating-chains 102 andsupported in operative position in the vertically-movableexcavating-frame upon supportin -Wheels 103 and 104. These supporting-wieels are mounted upon shafts 105 and 106, which are mounted on andextend laterally across the upper and lower ends,respectively, of thesupplementary frame 57, being mounted in supports 107 and 108. Theseexcavating-chains are each formed of a multiplicity of links each havingside link portions 109, which are integral with the hol ow transverseend or hub portions 110 at,

one end of each link. The hollow ends or hubs of the links are eachadapted to contain a connecting-pin 11], mounted in suitableperforations in the open end of the next adjacent link. The hollowtransverse portions of the links are thus secured between the open endsof the side link portions and are made cylindrical, so as to be artlyencircled by the tiltable hooked teeth of operatin sprockets hereinafterdescribed and pernut such teeth to move into and out of enga ement witha substantially straight lap of t e chain in an eflicient manner. Theraising and lowering of the excavating device is greatly facilitated bythe use of an operating or power-transmitting device adapted to thusoperatively en age a straight lap of the excavating-chain wiien suchchain is in any raised or lowered operative position.

The excavating-shovels are each formed of a mam body portion having acentral perforation 112 extending from side to slde of the shovelparallel with the edge which carries the cutters, such main body portionbeing provided with securin -lugs 116, whlch may be integral with the siovel and are secured to the chain by means of rivets or pins, as shownin Fi 7. Lugs 113, which ma be inte ral wit the shovels, are providehaving Tower ends which swing into and out of engagement with shafts114, b means of whiph rollers 115 are connecte -with the chalns. Therollers 115 are mounted on the chains at suitable intervals, beingrotatably secured thereto b means of the shafts 114, already describethe peripheries of said rollers bein in engagement with the flanges ofthe side -beams of the frame, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Cutter-teeth117 are mounted in perforations along the outer edges of the main bodyportions of the shovels to which they are secured by means of integralsecuring stems.or studs 118, which extend into suitable perforations inthe main body portions. The securing-stems of the cutters are slightlytapered, so as to be held rigidly in place. The outer teeth 119 arecurved outward and mounted in a similar manner in removable extensionportions 120 at the 0 posite sides of the mam body portions of theshovels. These extension portions are each provided with a hollowsecuring stem or shank 121, which fits snugly in the perforation 112 ofthe main body portion of the shovel. These removable extension ortionsof the shovels are each held in p ace b means of a tapered dowel-pin122, which is inserted through a corresponding perforation in the mainbody portion of the shovel and similar perforations in the extension endportions, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. By this means it will be seen thatthe Width of the shovels, and thereby the width of the excavation, maybe increased or decreased, as desired, by the insertion or removal ofthe extension members without removin the main body portions of theshovels from t e flexible supporting member or chain or disturbing theconnections with the chain. When the extension members are removed, thecurved teeth may be mounted in place of the outer teeth in the main bodyportlons of the shovels, so as to produce the necessary clearance orwidth of cut to permit the efficient operation of the excavatingmechanism.

In order to provide simple and efl'icient means for driving theexcavatin' -chain, and thereby operating the shovels, t e mainoperating-shaft 6, which is journaled in the main frame in fixedbearings, is provided with a pair of tiltable toothed sprockets eachformed of a pair of side disk portions 123, which are secured in fixedrelation to the shaft by means of keys or splines 124. Each pair of sidedisk portions is provided with a multiplicity of tiltable teeth 125,mounted therebetween upon supporting-pivots 126, which connect the sidedisk portions and extend across the space therebetween at regularintervals, each of such pivots being mounted in laterally-projectingportions 127 around the outer eriphery of the disk, as shown in Fig. 7.hese teeth are each provided with'an outer hooked end portion 128 and aninner arm or body portion 129, upon the inner end of which is rotatablymounted an antifriction-roller 130. Between each pair of disks and inengagement with the inner surfaces of these antifriction-rollers 1smounted a stationary cam 131, which enclrcles the shaft and is securedin fixed position by means of an outer arm 132, which is preferablyintegral with the sleeve portion of the cam. The arm 132 is connectedwith the main frame in any ordinar manner, as shown in Fi 2, so as tohold t e cam against rotation. he peripheral surface of this cam iscircular throughout a greater portion of its circumference, butisprovided with a recessed portion 135 in the proper position between theshaft 6 and the excavating-chain to permit the tiltin teeth to bereleased from such chain when t ey reach the desired position. The engaed face of the cam is thus adapted to hold the teeth in extendedoperative or chain-engaging position until such releasing position isreached, as shown in Fig. 7. As

, soon as the rear or inner'ends of the teeth are released fromengagement with the cam they swing out of engagement with the chainindependently of the cam. By this arrangement 1t will be seen that thetilting teeth are held by the cam in operative engagement with the chainand permitted to pass out of enga ement therewith at the proper time insue a manner as to enable a substantially straight portion of thechainto be engaged by the ,teeth of such rotating gear mechanism anddisengaged therefrom in an efiicient manner. The portion of the camwhich engages the in ner ends of the tiltable teeth or theantifriction-roller members thereof while the teeth are in actualengagement with the chain should be of such contour as to cause thechain-engaging portions ofthe teeth to move in a comparatively straightpath while in engaging position as compared with their path of movementwhen released from engagement with the chain. The operating-lap of theexcavating-chain being Ve t and stantially straight, theexcavating-frame, with its chain-and-bucket mechanism, may thus beraised or lowered to any desired position with relation to the tiltintoothed gear mechanism without injurious y affectmg the operation of theparts. The gear mechanism, in other words, may be mounted upon the mainframe portion and efficiently connected with the source of power, andthe excavating-chain, with its vertically-movable frame, may be readilymoved bodily up or down without disturbing or moving the tilting tootheddriving-gear, and the power may at all times be applied to the chain atthe same elevation.

In order to provide suitable means for enseams abling the material to bedischarged from the excavatin and conveyer buckets always at the same eevation re ardless ofthe raised or lowered position of t e excavatingmechanism, a scraper 136 is mounted u on supporting-arms 137, which arepivotal y secured to supporting-arm portions 138 of the main frame bymeans of pivots 139, and cams 140 are mounted upon and secured in fixedrelation to the rotatable shaft 6 in alinement with the ivoted armortions of such scraper. hese cams eac have two arm portions projectinlaterall in op osite directions from the s aft, so t at eac projectingcam portion alternately engages the adjacent supporting-arm of thescraper at the proper time to move it out and slightly upward from therear edge to the forward cutting1 and discharging edge of each shovel aseac below the scraper, so as to be emptied thereby. As the scraper isreleased by the engag ing cam-arms it 1s permitted to fall back intoposition over the next excavating-bucket to be operated in a similarmanner for each bucket in its turn. The material may thus bedischar edfrom a straight lap of the chainand-shove l mechanism at any desiredelevation.

Each shovel is provided with a back plate 159, having perforated lugs160 extending at right angles to the back plate and pivotally secured tothe chain by means of ivots 161. The scrapers pass in front of t eseback plates, ejecting the material from the shovels.

For dischargin the material'from the machine after it has een emptiedfrom the shovels an endless conveyer-belt .141, which may be of anordinary and well-known form, is mounte upon a transversely-movableconveyer-frame, which extends transversely across the machine andlaterally beyond either or both sides thereof. This conveyerframe isformed of a air of side angle-iron members 142, which orm the sides ofthe frame, and shafts 143 and 144, which are mounted in suitable bearins 145 and connect the ends of the side angl e-iron members.Supporting-wheels 146 are mounted upon such shafts respectively, and theendless conthe upper lap of the endless conveyer-belt.

The conveyer-frame thus formed is movable transversely of the main frameto any desired position and is ada ted to be secured removablyin anydesire adjusted position. For moving the conveyer-frame, together withthe endless conveyer, transversely to the main frame and for holding itin any deshovel is in turn brought into position,

sired adjusted position, chains 149 are secured to such conveyer-framenear the opposite ends thereof, respectivelyone'upon each side of theoonveyer-frame,

An operating-shaft 150 is mounted upon the main frame at each sidethereof in suitable bearings 151, each of such shafts having aratchet152 thereon.

A pawl 153 is mounted upon the main frame in e agement with the teeth ofeach of such rate ets respectively. Each shaft is also provided with asquared or laterally-perforated portion 154, adapted to be engaged by anoperating-lever of any ordinary type for rotating such shafts, andthereby moving the conveyer-frame transversely of the main frame to anydesired osition. The'side angle-iron members of t e conveyer-frame restupon suitablesupports 156 upon the main frame. y

The endless conveyer is operatively connected with the shaft 78, andthereby with the main operating driven shaft 6 and source of power, bymeans of a sprocket-chain 157 the outer portion of which is mounted uponI a sprocket-wheel 158 upon the shaft 144 and the inner portion of whichis mounted upon the sprocket-wheel 94 on the shaft 78, alreadydescribed. The conveyer is thus adapted to be driven in either directioncorres onding to the direction of rotation of the s aft 78, and it maybe moved bodily transversely of the machine into position to dischargematerial carried thereby at any desired distance beyond either side ofthe machine.

Guiding-arms 162 for limiting the transverse movement of thetraction-wheels are pivotally mounted on the main frame and provided attheir upper ends with flanged guiding-wheels 163 in engagement with theinner annular track portions 2 of the traction-wheels. Gusset-plates 164are secured to and connect the upper ends of the angleiron guiding-arms162 and form a support for the stub-shaft 165, upon which the flangedpulley on each side of the machine is mounted, and a transverselyextending shaft or arm 166 is mounted on each side of the machine forlimiting the transverse movements of the guiding-arms 162, and therebythe upper portions of the traction-wheels. Means for providing ayielding resistance to such transverse movement is provided in the formof compression-springs 167, which are mounted on opposite sides of eachguiding-frame or pair of arms 162, between the gusset-plates and collars168 011 the arms 166. These collars are on opposite sides of theguidingframes and limit the transverse movements of the traction-wheels.The transverse arms 166 are each pivoted at their inner ends to brackets169 upon the main frame, and their outer portions pass loosely throughperforations in the gusset-plates 164.

The links to which the back members 159 of the excavating-shovels aresecured are the same to which the mam body ortions of such shovels aresecured, such lin s each besupporting and guiding members,excavating-chain mechanism mounted on andhaving a substantially straightupwardly-movable excavating-ch ain portion extending from the upper tothe lower chain supporting and guiding members, excavating-shovelssecured to such exc avating-chain mechanism, and chainoperatingmechanism mounted in stationary sup orts on the main frame in engagementwit straight portion of the excavating-chain mechanisn'i at pointsintermediate the upper and lower chain-supporting members.

2. In an excavating-machine, the comb nation of a main supporting-frame,a vertically-movable excavating-frame mounted in the main frame andprovided with excavating mechanism mounted thereon comprising asubstantially strai ht upwardly-movable excavating-chain portion havingattached excavating-shovels, upper and lower supporting-wheels uponwhich such chain mechanism is mounted and between which suchsubstantially straight portion of the chain extends, and chain-operatingmechanism mounted in fixed sup orts in the main frame and provided withti table tooth mechanism in engagement with the upwardly-movablesubstantially straight portion of the excavating-chain at pointsintermediate the upper and lowerchain-supporting wheels.

3. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a main supporting-frame,a vertically-movable excavating-frame mounted in the main frame andprovided with excavating mechanism mounted thereon comprising asubstantially straight upwardly-movable excavating-chaiu portion havingattached excavating-shovels, upper and lower supporting-wheels uponwhich such chain mechanism is mounted and between which suchsubstantially straight portion of the chain extends, chain-operatingmechanism mounted in the main frame and provided with tooth mechanism inengagement with the upwardly-movable substantiallystraight portion ofthe excavating-chain at points intermediate the upper and lowerchain-supporting wheels, and means for operatively connecting suchchain-oporating mechanism with a suitable sourceof power.

4. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a main supporting-frame,a vertithe upwardly-movable substantially mechanism having tiltacally-movable excavating-frame mounted in the mam frame and providedwith excavating mechanism mounted thereon comprising a substantiallystraight upwardlymovable excavating-chain portion having attachedexcavating-shovels, u per and ower su porting-w eels upon w 1chsuchchain mec ianism is mounted and between which such substantia'llstraight portion of the chain extends, a s aft mounted in fixed supportsin the main frame and provided with sprocket mechanism in toothedengagement with the upwardly-movable portion of the excavating-chain atpoints intermediate the upper and lower chain-supporting wheels, andmeans for operating such shaft.

5. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a main frame,supporting-wheels upon which such frame is mounted, a substantiallyvertical supplementary frame extending and movable upward and downwardand provided with excavating-chain mechanism with attached excavatingand carrying shovels, a shaft mounted on the main frame, a sprocketprovided with tiltable teeth mounted upon such shaft, and cam mechanismmounted. in operative engage.- ment with such tiltable teeth forpositively holding them in engagement with the chain and permitting themto move freely to releasing position.

6. In anexcavating-machine, the combination of a supporting-frame,excavating mechanism supported thereby, and operating mechanism providedwith tiltable teeth movable into and out of engagement with suchexcavating mechanism.

7 In an excavating-machine, the combination of a supporting-frame, asupplemen tary frame movably mounted thereon, flexible excavating andelevating mechanism mounted on such movable sup lementary frame, andsprocket mechanism iiaving tiltable teeth movable into and out ofoperative engagement with such excavating and elevating mechanism.

8. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a su porting-frame,sprocket-chain mechanism ffaving attached excavatingshovels, a shaftjournaled on said frame, and a s rocket mounted on said shaft providedwit teeth having concave Working faces movable into engagement with theexcavating sprocket-chain mechanism.

9. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a supporting-frame, anormally ver tical beam or frame mounted thereon, a flexible excavatingand elevating device, mounted on such vertical frame comprisinsprocket-chain mechanism having attache excavating and elevatin shovels,sprocket flle teeth provided with concave faces movable into engagementwith the chain and means for positively holding such "teeth inchain-engaging position and adapted to permit the teeth to tilt freelyout of engagement with the chain.

10. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a supporting-frame, asprocket chain mechanism having attached excavatmg shovels, means forsup orting such sprocket-chain and shovel mecfianism in operatlveposition, sprocket mechanism provided with tiltable teeth having concavesurface portions movable into and out of engagement with suchsprocket-chain mechanism, and means for supporting such sprocketmechanism.

11. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a mainsupporting-frame, an exca vating-chain having a substantially straightportion, a shaft mounted on said frame, a sprocket provided withtiltable teeth and mounted on said shaft, and mechanism for holding theteeth in engagement with a substantially straight portion of theexcavatingchain provided with means for allowing said teeth to tilt atthe desired point for isengagement from said excavating-chain.

12. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a main frame, anexcavating device mounted thereon comprising a normally ver tical beamor frame movable vertically and provided with an endless flexibleexcavating and elevating device mounted on such vertically-movable beamor frame, a shaft journaled on the supporting-frame, a sprocket mountedon said shaft and provided with tiltable teeth movable into engagementwith the flexible excavating and elevating device, a stationary camloosely mounted on said shaft in engagement with such tiltable teeth forholding them in operative position and releasing them from engagementwith the flexible excavating and elevating device, and means for raisingand lowering such vertically-movable excavating mechanism.

13. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a supporting-frame,endless flexible excavating and elevating mechanism movable to differentoperative positions, and

a sprocket having tiltable teeth for o crating such endless flexibleexcavating an elevating mechanism.

14. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a supporting-frame, ashaft mounted on said frame, a relatively upright beam or frame carryinga flexible excavatlng and ele vating device, a series of excavating andelevating shovels having pointed projections for loosening the materialto be excavated, and having body portions for elevating such material, ascraper pivoted to a supporting-frame portion and adapted to be forcedoutward and upward slightly in advance of each of the excavating andelevating shovels'successively for discharging the excavated materialcarried thereby, and cam mechanism for operating such scraper.

15. In an excavating-machine, the combimounted on said supporting-frame,a crank mounted on said shaft, pawl-and-ratchet mechanism, a itman havinone end pivotally connects to such cran and the other end operativelyconnected with the awland-ratchet mechanism, means for shifting thepoint of pivotal connection between the I pitman and crank, and gearmechanism for connecting the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism with thetraction-wheels for transmitting a variable step-by-step motion thereto.

17. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a supporting-frame, averticallymovable frame or beam carrying an endless flexible excavatingand elevating device comprisin a sprocket-chain provided with a seriesof excavating and elevating shovels, a prime motor mounted on saidsupportingframe, a power-transmitting shaft ournaled on saidsupporting-frame and provided with a spurear, a shaft connected with themotor and provided with a pinion in enga ement with the spur-gearmounted on t e said power-transmitting shaft and provided with teethadapted to positively engage the sprocket-chain mechanism of saidflexible excavatin and elevating device while said sprocket-c ainmechanism is passing said sprocket in a practically straight line.

18. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a supporting-frame,sprocket-chain mechanism having attached excavatingshovels, means forsupporting s uch sprocketchain and shovel mechanism m operativeposition, a sprocket member provided with side disk portions and havingtiltable teeth mounted intermediate such side disk'portions. and movableinto and out of engagement with the sprocket-chain mechanism, and cammechanism mounted between the disk portions of the sprocket member andin operative engagement with the pivoted teeth for holding them inchain-engaging position and permitting them to move to releasingposition.

19. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a supporting-frame,sprocket-chain mechanism provided with attached excavating-shovels,means for supporting such sprocket-chain and shovel mechanism inoperative position, a sprocket-wheel havin side body portions providedwith a space t ere-' between, perforated tiltable teeth mounted betweensuch side body portions of .the sprocket-wheel, pivot-pins extendingthrough the perforations in such tiltable teeth and having theiropposite ends mounted in the side portions of the sprocket-Wheel, andmeans for holding such tiltable teeth in ex-' tended position-andpermitting them to move to retracted releasing position.

20. In an excavating-machine, the combination of excavating chain andshovel mechanism, a sprocket member having side body portions providedwith a space therebetween, tiltable teeth mounted between such side bodyportions each provided With antifriction-rollers on its inner end,andcam mechanism mounted in en agement with the antifriction-rollers for hoding such teeth in extended chain-engaging position and permitting themto move to retracted releasing position.

21. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a frame, provided withtractionwheel mechanism, excavating mechanism supported by such frame,means for o erating such excavating mechanism, a sha provided withgearmechanism connected with the traction-wheel mechanism, and means forrotating such shaft intermittently and thereby imparting a step-by-stepmovement to the machine.

22. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a frame,traction-wheels for sup porting such frame, excavating mechanism mountedupon the frame, shaft-and-gear mechanism connected with thetractionwheels for rotating them, and means for rotating suchshaft-and-gear mechanism intermittently or continuously as desired andthereby rotating the traction-wheels either continuously orintermittently.

23. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a frame, hollowtraction-wheels upon which the rear portion of such frame is mounted,a-shaft provided with gear mechanism in engagement with suchtractionwheels, a motor mounted upon such frame, and mechanismoperatively connecting such shaft with the motor and provided with meansfor intermittently rotating the shaft and thereby the traction-wheels.

24. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a frame, excavatingmechanism mounted upon such frame, spokeless traction-wheels,supporting-wheel mechanism connected with the frame and supported bysuch spokeless traction-wheels eccentric thereto, an annular gear foreach tractionwheel, a shaft provided with toothed gearwheels in toothedengagement with such annular gears, and means for rotating such shaft.

25. In an excavating-machine, the combiwheels, supporting-wheelmechanism connected wit the frame and supported by such spokelesstraction-wheels an annular gear for each traction-wheel, a shaftprovided with toothed gear-wheels in toothed engagement with suchannular gears, compensating-gear mechanism operatively connected withsuch traction-wheel-operatin gear and shaft mechanism, means for loc inall of the compensating-gear members in xed relation to each other andto the shaft upon which the are mounted, and means for operating succompensating gear and thereby the tractionwheel mechanism. -i 27. In anexcavating-machine, the combination of a frame, excavating mechanismmounted upon such frame spokeless traction wheels, su porting-wheelmechanism connected wit the frame and supported by such spokelesstraction-Wheels, an annular gear for each traction-wheel, a shaftprovided with toothed gear-wheels in toothed engagement with suchannular gears, means for securin such gears in fixed relation to eachother an to the shaft upon which they are mounted and for releasingmoneof such gearsfrom fixed engagement wit such shaft, compensatinggearmechanism 0 eratively connected with such'traction-whee -driving gears,and mechanism mounted upon such frame and operatively connected with thecompensatin -gear mechanism for operating it and there y thetraction-Wheels.

28. In an excavating-machine, the combi nation of a frame, excavatingmechanism mounted upon such frame, spokeless tractionwheels, suporting-wheel mechanism connected wit the frame and supported by suchspokeless traction-wheels, an annular gear for each traction-wheel, ashaft provided with toothed gear-wheels in toothed engagement with suchannular gears, an engine mounted upon such frame, means for operativelyconnecting the engine with such traction-wheeldriving shaft-and-gearmechanism for rotating the same continuously when desired, and means foroperatively connecting the engine with such traction-wheel-drivingshaft-and" gear mechanism or rotating the same intermittently whendesired.

29. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a frame, excavatingmechanism mounted upon such frame, traction-wheels for supporting andmoving such frame, an annular gear for each traction-wheel, a shaftprovided with toothed gear-wheels in toothed engagement with suchannular ears, and mechanism operatively connecte with the excavatingmechanism and with the tractionwheel-drivin shaftand-gear mechanism forsimultaneous y operating the excavating mechanism continuously and thetraction mechanism intermittent y. 30. In an excavating-m achine, thecombi nation of a main frame, spokeless supporting traction-wheelsmounted on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of such frame,excavating mechanism mounted upon such frame, means for operating suchexcavating mech anism, and conveyer mechanism extendin transversely ofthe main frame and through the spokelesstraction-wheel mechanism.

31. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a main frame, spokelesssupporting traction-wheels mounted on opposite sides of such frame,means for holding the frame in position with relation to thetraction-Wheels, excavating mechanism mounted upon such frame, conveyormechanism extending transversely of such frame and through thespokeless-traction-wheel mechanism, and means for operating suchexcavator mechanism, traction-wheel mechanism and transverse conveyormechanism simultaneously.

32. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a main frame, spokelesssupportin traction-wheels mounted on opposite sides 0'" such frame,means for holding the frame in position with relation to thetraction-wheels, excavating mechanism mounted upon such frame, conveyermechanism extending transversely of such frame and through the 'spokeless-traction-wheel mechanism, a shaft-andgear mechanism operativelyconnected with the traction-wheels for rotating them, means foroperatively connecting such shaft-and gear mechanism with a source ofpower, means for operating the excavating mechanism and means foroperating the transverse conveyer mechanism.

33. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a mainframe, hollowtractionwheels mounted upon op osite sides of the longitudinal center ofsue frame, support ing-wheels connected with the frame and eccentricallymounted in the hollow tractionwheels, excavating mechanism extendingbetween such spokeless traction-wheels and movable to different raisedor lowered o erative positions, means for operating suc excavatingmechanism, and means for rotating the traction-wheels.

34. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a mainframe, spokelesstractionwheels mounted upon opposite sides of the longitudinal center ofsuch frame, excavating mechanism extending between such spokelesstraction-Wheels and movable substantially vertically to different raisedor lowered operative positions, means for operating such excavatingmechanism, means for rotating the traction-wheels simultaneously withthe operation of the excavating mechanism, and conveyer mechanismextending transversely across the frame and through the traction-wheelmechanism for discharging material laterally beyond the side of themachine.

35. In an excavatingmachine, the combination of a shovel having a mainbody por tion and removable extension portions secured to and extendinglaterally beyond the sides of such body portion, and means forsupporting such main body portion and extension portions in operativeposition.

36. In an excavating-machine, the combination of chain mechanism,excavating-shovels having main body portions secured to such chainmechanism and provided with extension portions removably secured to andextending laterally beyond the sides of such excavating-shovels.

37. In an excavating-machine, the combination of chain mechanism, andexcavating shovels having main body portions secured to such chainmechanism and provided with extension ortions'removably secured uponopposite sldes of such main body portions of the shovels and extendinglaterally beyond the sides of the shovels and chain mechanlsm.

38. In an excavating-machine, the combination of chain mechanism,excavatingshovels having main body portions secured to such chainmechanism, extension members for each of such shovels, and 'means forsecuring such extension members in position to extend laterally beyondthe main body portions of the shovels and chain mechanism.

PETER POULSON.

